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The Foix-Alajouanine syndrome was originally reported by these authors in 1926, as rapidly progressive vasculitis on the background of a viral infection. The pathology was represented by the huge, more than 10 times, dilation either of the lumen, or the walls of the spinal vessels, either of the arteries, or the veins. There were no signs of thrombosis, no malformations. Massive necrosis was observed in the spinal cord. Though plenty of observations of the syndrome were reported over the past 100 years, most of them deal with arteriovenous malformations and/or thrombosis, which had not been revealed originally. We present the case of spinal viral vasculitis detected by means of spinal MR-angiography. The undoubted viral etiology of vasculitis allows us to attribute this observation to Foix-Alajouanine syndrome.

Aim: To determine surgical tactics for hip subluxation and luxation in children with spinal hernia consequences., Material and Methods: The study included 134 patients with hip subluxation and luxation with consequences of cerebrospinal hernias who were examined at the Turner Research Institute for Children's Orthopedics in 2006-2016. The main group consisted of 69 patients who received surgical treatment with hip joint stabilization. The control group included 65 children without surgery. Within each group patients were divided into 2 subgroups depending on level of spinal cord injury by using of Sharrard technique., Results: In patients with high lesion (Th and LI-LII) surgical treatment led to impairment of motor function in most cases (71%) (archival material); in case of LIII-LIV and LV-SI segments 25 of 45 (55%) patients improved motor performance while in control group motor function was deteriorated in 13 of 35 (37%) cases., Conclusion: Neurosegmental level allows to predict the motor function and to determine surgical tactics.

Aim: To study an effect of cortexin on functional recovery and morphology of the spinal cord of rats with spinal cord ischemia., Material and Methods: Spinal cord ischemia was achieved by ligation of the infrarenal abdominal aorta in 16 rats stratified into two equal groups: the ligation of infrarenal aorta was performed in the control group, aorta ligation was performed also in the experimental group with preliminary intraperitoneally administration of cortexin in a dose of 0.15 mg/kg 30 min before procedure. Evaluation of neurologic deficit was performed by the Tarlov's scale. Morphological evaluation was made by analyzing the histological sections of the lumbar and sacral cord using the Nissl's method of coloring. Statistical analysis was performed as well., Results and Conclusion: A pronounced and significant effect of cortexin, which was clinically expressed in a decrease in neurological deficit (p=0.0095), morphologically in an increase in the number of normochromic neurons (р=0.01), and a decrease in shrunken neurons (р=0.0001) and shadow cells (р=0.0003), was noted. The results suggest a potential myeloprotective effect of cortexin. The drug can be considered in the context of treatment of vascular myelopathy.

Simulation model of open penetrating wound of a spinal cord (SC) with its durable com- pression by biocompatible foreign body, was tasted. Experimental animals - mature male rats (inbred line, descendent from a Wistar breed); the trauma simulation model - a left- sided transsection of the SC half on the Txi level; experimental groups: the main (a SC trau- ma + homotopic implantation of microporous hydrogel fragment - foreign body [n=10]), groups of comparison (the SC trauma [n=16]; the SC trauma + homotopic implantation of chemically identical analogue of hydrogel - NeuroGelTM [n=20]). A SC compression by a foreign body worsens the regeneration process course essentially: during first 2 mo the function index of a hind ipsilateral extremity in experimental animals of the main group was the lowest in the experiment - (1.30 ? 0.94) points in accordance to BBB scale, during 3 - 4 mo - the function index had enhanced trustworthy - up to (2.35 ? 0.95) points in accor- dance to BBB scale, what is connected with lowering of a local pressure on a SC tissue due to change of the foreign body form and volume. In 24 weeks the function index of hind ipsi- lateral extremity had constituted (8.45 ? 0.92) points - while application of NeuroGeTM and (2.35 ? 0.95) points - of the foreign body; the tissue processes in the implants localization zone had differed essentially. The tasted simulation model reproduces satisfactory a mechanical component of the foreign body impact on a SC tissue. The SC compression reduction, even in a late follow-up period, had improved the conditions and results of recenerative process essentially.

A new experimental model for tissues connection at peripheral nerve injury site in form of tissues welding was designed. In current study we investigated motoneuron state 1, 3, 6 and 12 weeks after peripheral nerve injury and surgical repair with high-frequency electrosurgical technology. Spinal cord sections was stained by Nissl method and observed with light microscopy. We found that postoperative period in animals from experimental groups characterized by qualitative changes in neurons from spinal motor centers that can be interpreted as compensatory processes as response to alteration. In animals from group with high-frequency electrosurgical technology usage stabilization processes passes more quickly comparatively to animals with epineural sutures. High-frequency electrosurgical technology usage provides less harmful effects on motoneurons than epineural suturing.

The expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), neurofilament (NF) protein 200 kDa, calbindin (CAB) 28 kDa, neuronal NO-synthase (nNOS), caspase 3, Ki-67 was studied in motor neurons from TIII–TV segments of the spinal cord in C57/ BL6 male mice by immunohistochemical methods 12 h after a 30 days-long space flight on the Bion-M1 biosatellite. Mice living under standard vivarium conditions served as a control. The motoneurons of experimental animals demonstrated the reactive changes that were manifested by the increase of their size, decrease in the number of subpopulations expressing ChAT and NF, increase of subpopulations containing CAB, appearance of motor neurons expressing nNOS, caspase-3, and the absence of Ki-67. The lack of proliferating gliocytes, the preservation of nucleolar component indicate the absence of necrobiotic changes characteristic of necrosis. The cytoplasmic vacuolization was observed in thionine-stained CAB-immunoreactive neurons. The disintegration of motor neurons into fragments resembling the apoptotic bodies was observed in single cells that contained caspase-3.

The regenerative capacity of the Central Nervous System (CNS) is a key factor implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, the regenerative capacity of the CNS is considered using one of the markers of regeneration, Growth Associated Protein-43 (GAP-43) and its proteolytic fragment GAP-43-3 in the Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal model of multiple sclerosis. The EAE on Wistar rats was characterized as an adequate model of multiple sclerosis, with typical clinical (pares and paralysis) and morphological (infiltration of spinal cord and deformation of motoneurons) disorders. Normally about 60% of GAP-43 is cleaved by m-calpain and stays in the form of GAP-43-3. During severe form of EAE up to 85% of GAP-43 can be found cleaved. We speculated that the cleavage of GAP-43 can play a crucial role for regenerative capacity of CNS during EAE development. Thus the distribution of GAP-43 and GAP-43-3 in the spinal cord was analyzed. The manifestation of clinical signs of EAE has been found to be in correlation with the levels of GAP-43 proteolysis both in the homogenate of the spinal cord and on the spinal cord slices. The immunoreactive staining enabled the observation of the accumulation of GAP-43-3 predominantly in microglial cells.

Objective: the study objective was to improve the quality of detection of medulloblastoma metastases., Material and Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spinal cord in a child with medulloblastoma of the posterior cranial fossa, which was performed on the first day after surgery, detected contrast-positive thickenings of the meninges in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal cord that might be erroneously diagnosed as metastasis. These lesions spontaneously regressed within 3 weeks, which was verified by control MRI., Conclusion: In the case of misinterpretation of a MRI picture of contrast-positive thickenings of the meninges, a patient is erroneously regarded as having tumor metastases and is subject to more intensive treatment. However, the lesions spontaneously disappear or greatly reduce after 2-3 weeks. The article presents a case of this phenomenon, describes the putative mechanisms of its development, and provides recommendations for its differential diagnosis from metastases.

In the present study we have used a transgenic mice overexpressing an amyloidogenic protein, gamma-synuclein, in the nervous system to address the effect of dimebon on proteinopathy progression. Neuroprotective effect of chronic dimebon administration in these mice at organismal level was confirmed by the increased lifespan. Using histological and biochemical approaches we have demonstrated that dimebon reduced the number of amyloid inclusions in spinal cord of transgenic animals and decreased the content of ubiquitinated proteins in detergent-insoluble fractions. These effects are likely to occur at the level of aggregated protein species, since transgene expression was not altered. Thus, pathological protein aggregation serves as one of dimebon targets in neurodegeneration.

In normal rats and of those with parathyroprivous (hypocalcemic) tetany the comparative analysis of background activity (BA), tetanic and posttetanic increase and decrease of frequency of spinal cord (SC) motoneurons (MNs) responses under high-frequency (50, 100Hz) stimulation (HFS) of flexor (G) and extensor (P) hind-limb nerves have been conducted. The on-line selection and program analysis of the spikes was produced. On the 3-7 and 21-22 days of development of acute and chronic tetany, respectively, the significant tetanic and posttetanic changes of MNs activity without meaningful changes in BA was registered. Along with the abrupt increase of excitatory manifestation of activity to HFS in a period of development of acute tetany was observed their relative weakening in animals with chronic tetany. Simultaneously the weakening or total disappearance of depressor reaction, especially expressed in the period of development of acute tetany was noted. It was concluded on the causal dependence of the parathyroprivous convulsions due to disturbances of correlation of inhibitory-excitatory processes in SC MNs.

Motor neuron disease (MND), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord and the brain. Several angiogenic and neurogenic growth factors, such as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiogenin (ANG), insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and others, have been shown to promote survival of the spinal motor neurons during ischemia. We constructed recombinant vectors using human adenovirus 5 (Ad5) carrying the VEGF, ANG or IGF genes under the control of the cytomegalovirus promoter. As a model for MND, we employed a transgenic mice strain, B6SJL-Tg (SOD1*G93A)d11 Gur/J that develops a progressive degeneration of the spinal motor neurons caused by the expression of a mutated Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase gene SOD1. Delivery of the therapeutic genes to the spinal motor neurons was done using the effect of the retrograde axonal transport after multiple injections of the Ad5-VEGF, Ad5-ANG and Ad5-IGF vectors and their combinations into the limbs and back muscles of the SOD1(G93A) mice. Viral transgene expression in the spinal cord motor neurons was confirmed by immunocytochemistry and RT-RCR. We assessed the neurological status, motor activity and lifespan of experimental and control animal groups. We discovered that SOD1(G93A) mice injected with the Ad5-VEGF + Ad5-ANG combination showed a 2-3 week delay in manifestation of the disease, higher motor activity at the advanced stages of the disease, and at least a 10% increase in the lifespan compared to the control and other experimental groups. These results support the safety and therapeutic efficacy of the tested recombinant treatment. We propose that the developed experimental MND treatment based on viral delivery of VEGF + ANG can be used as a basis for gene therapy drug development and testing in the preclinical and clinical trials of the MND.

Studies results of gravity unloading influence on spinal control system of muscle structure and functions are summarized. It was shown that demyelization of axons due to reduction of genes expression responsible for myelin proteins synthesis, decrease in one of the key enzymes of cholinergic system--cholineacetyltransferase activity, alteration of normal kinetics of quantal and non-quantal neurotransmitter secretion, impaired autoregulation of acetylcholine secretion from motor nerve endings through presynaptic cholinergic receptors, slowing of axonal transport of substances in motor neurons that innervate postural muscles played the important role in the development of hypogravitational motor symptoms. At the same time, the evidences of neuroprotective mechanisms enclosing (increase in heat shock proteins Hsp25 and Hsp70 expression), that hinder apoptosis development in motor neurons and glial cells in the spinal cord under conditions of model hypogravity, were revealed.

We have analyzed clinical presentations, neuroimaging data, blood and cerebrospinal fluid diagnostic tests in isolated angiitis of the central nervous system on the basis of data of recent publications and 22 our own cases. Due to the insufficient diagnostic value of invasive methods including biopsy of leptomeningeal and intracerebral vessels, we considered practical approaches to the diagnosis of cerebral vasculitis and ways of its optimization. We suggested the stratification of clinical, neuroimaging and laboratory criteria for the evaluation of their sensitivity and specificity and for the development of diagnostic algorithms.

Sigma-1 receptor plays a protective function in various tissues. It was shown recently that a mutation in the sigma-1 receptor results in appearance of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In the central nervous system (CNS) the highest amounts of sigma-1 receptor are found in motoneurons of the spinal cord, where receptor is localized in subsurface cisternae of cholinergic postsynaptic densities. The sigma-1 receptor is thought to regulate the ion channels activity and thus may influence neuron excitability. In this review we consider the possible pathways by which the sigma-1 receptor may reduce the excitability of motoneurons and thereby play a protective function during the progression of ALS.

We followed up 102 patients with a monofocal clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) during 8 years. Factors determining its transition to definite multiple sclerosis were singled out according to the data of anamnesis and MRI scans. Age of patients at the onset of CIS and the volume of demyelination measured by the first MRI were the most significant predictors of the transition of CIS to definite multiple sclerosis. A mathematical model based on logistic regression analysis for the estimation of the risk of this transition is suggested.

Different mediator systems including serotoninergic one can influence animal's locomotor behavior. It has been shown that the spinal cord in the absence of supraspinal control is able to induce the locomotor activity in hindlimbs and afferent system can activate this mechanism. In behavioral studies on the rats with complete transection of the spinal cord it has been demonstrated that the pharmacological blocking of serotoninergic system results in depression of motor activity mediated by activation of support reactions. Histological studies did not reveal any effects of activation of support reactions on the safety of neurons as well as on the distribution of synaptic contacts within L2-L4 spinal segments. At the same time it has been shown that blockade of the serotoninergic system results in alterations of cells located in 1-3 laminae of dorsal horns, and in 7 Rexed's lamina as well as in redistribution of synaptic contacts in 1-4 Rexed laminae of the spinal cord dorsal horns.

The paper describes a case of Hodgkin's lymphoma at a very rare site (primary, solitary involvement of the dura mater spinalis) with its immunohistochemically verified diagnosis in a 38-year-old man.

When modeling effects of hypogravitation by the method of hindlimb unloading in rats the area of cross-section in lumbar part of a spinal cord was found to reduce. The analysis of spinal cord slides showed that these changes are associated with a decrease in the area of white substance of a spinal cord. Data obtained are consistent with our previous observation of a decrease in expression of the genes encoding myelin proteins. Results of our researches give the good reasons to believe that miyelinization failure in CNS is one of the factors that underlie the development of hypogravitational motor syndrome.

This work was designed to study changes in the nervous apparatus of the blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord with a view to developing methods for the determination of the biological age in man. Pial and intramedullary vascular systems of the brain and spinal cord were examined in different periods of postnatal ontogenesis (between the age of 1 and 90 years) using histological, fluorescent-histochemical, and immunohistochemical methods as well as by ink injections into the blood vessels, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The data obtained on the age-related rearrangement of the nervous apparatus of the arterial vessels in the brain and spinal cord have not only theoretical significance but can also be used for the solution of practical problems encountered in the practical work of forensic medical experts.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is very similar to the Sjögren's syndrome (SS) by its clinical presentations. Features found in common between the two disorders include symptoms of lesions of the brain, spinal cord and optic tract, the detection of autoantibodies, such as antinuclear, anti-Ro, anti-La and the prevalence of MRI abnormalities such as periventricular and subcortical lesions. Almost all symptoms found in patients with the CNS-SS involvement described above could be attributed to the concomitant presence of MS. Therefore, the differential diagnosis of these diseases is difficult. The paper addresses clinical and biological presentations of similarity of and differences between MS and SS in the diagnostic aspect.

It was shown that cannabinoids anandamide, HU210 and WIN 55,212-2 inhibit both spontaneous episodes of pain and mechanical allodynia in rats with central pain syndrome caused by disturbance of inhibitory processes in the dorsal horns of lumbar spinal cord. The analgesic effect is most pronounced in the intrathecal route of administration. The intensity of analgesic actions of cannabinoids on the central pain syndrome in rats, depending on the drug is as follows: HU210 > WIN 55,212-2 > anandamide.

Using the model of the rat spinal cord dosed contusion injury at T8 level, cross sectional area of the pathological cavities was measured and the number of myelinated nerve fibers was calculated in the outer zones of white matter after immediate single injection in the damaged area of human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCB-MC) transfected with plasmid with vegf and fgf2 genes. UCB-MC transfected with pEGFP-N2 plasmid with egfp gene of enhanced green fluorescent protein were injected into the rats of control group under similar conditions. By Day 30 after the injection of UCB-MC transfected with vegf and fgf2 genes, total cross-sectional area of the cavities in outer zones of white matter at a distance of 3 mm caudally from the epicenter of the injury was reduced more than twice as compared with that found in control group. Number of myelinated nerve fibers in the same zones of white matter at the same distance from the epicentre in rostral and caudal directions, was increased by 20% on the average as compared with control, and at a distance of 5 mm in rostral direction--by 40 to 70%. Thus, the delivery to the injury region of the therapeutic genes vegf and fgf2 reduced cavitation, restrained the processes of secondary degeneration and supported the number of myelinated fibers in the injured spinal cord.

The authors studied features of vegetative regulation in patients with occupational cervical dorsopathy and specified differentiated rehabilitation programs proved to be more efficient than the conventional treatment.

In clinical practice, dimephosphon is used as a vasoactive agent in cases of traumatic brain injury. We have studied the influence of dimephosphon on the functional recovery of dog spinal cord after lesion. The spinal cord trauma was modeled using the methods described by Allen. In a period of time from the 1st to 10th day after injury, experimental group of animals was treated intravenously with 2.5% dimephosphon solution (18.75 mg/kg).The recovery of conduction in descending spinal nerves was studied using the transcranial magnetic stimulation technique on the Neurotest complex comprising a transcranial magnetic stimulator and a computer analyzer. The state of sacrolumbar motoneurons was determined by the method of stimulation electromyography that allows both H-reflex and M-wave responses to be recorded. The status of experimental animals, their locomotor activity and pain sensation were evaluated using standard clinical assessment. Morphological analysis performed with paraffin sections (hematoxylin-eosin staining) demonstrated that dimephosphon decreased the initiation of apoptosis and necrosis and supported the recovery of injured parts of spinal cord. Thus, the results revealed a beneficial effect of dimephosphon administration on the functional recovery of injured spinal cord.

Morphological changes in the spinal cord of rats with different intensity of pathological symptoms were studied at the peak of the experimental encephalomyelitis development. Light-microscopical and immunohistochemical methods were used. Distribution of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), astrocyte marker - glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP), and microglia and macrophage marker Iba-1, was studied. Heterogeneity in morphological manifestations of the experimental allergic encephalomyelitis was shown. Four typical patterns of morphological manifestations of the disease were demonstrated depending on the preferential involvement of pia mater, vessels, spinal cell nuclei or conductive tracts in the pathological process.

In simulation of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), a hyperactivation of calpaines occurs due to m-calpaines. The m-calpaines involvement in the process of initiation of neurons and glial cells death in the EAE development was suggested.

Development of myelopathies of venous genesis is based on venous hypertension inside vertebral canal which was initially described by J. Aboulker. According to anatomical and functional features of epidural venous system, two factors contribute in development of venous congestion: decreased outflow and increased inflow. Clinical manifestation is presented by spastic movement disorders. Morphological study performed in 18 cadavers allowed to discover so called 'narrow areas' which cause impaired circulation through large feeders of caval veins, which can be discovered by selective phlebography. Main phlebographic features include stenosis, compression, atresia, thrombosis and retrograde flow towards epidural venous plexus. We examined 58 patients with spastic para- and tetraparesis of unknown nature. Phlebographic signs of venous dyscirculation were revealed in 34 cases. 28 surgical operations were performed: 24 on feeders of vena cava superior and 4 on feeders of vena cava inferior. In 18 cases we obtained satisfactory results. This investigation should be continued.

The aim of this study was to determine the pathomorphological and functional changes after the induced focal photothrombosis of blood vessels in the thoracic region of rat spinal cord. Neuronal damage, characteristic of ischemia, both in the focus of an experimental photothrombosis and in transitional zone, were detected together with the symptoms of motor function and pelvic organ failure. The investigated method of focal photothrombosis induction may be used for modeling of spinal cord ischemia in the development of methods for pharmacological correction and partial restoration of damaged sensomotor functions.

Spinal cord (SC) segmentectomy was performed at ThX level in 28 rats. The scar formation in place of surgery and the degree of restoration of anatomical integrity were studied in control rats (group I) and in rats, in which SC defect was replaced by either Spherogel neuromatrix (group II) or Spherogel containing dispersed embryonic nerve cells (group II). While in group I rats by weeks 1-2 SC defect was filled with fibrin masses, in rats of experimental groups II and III the formation of connective tissue scar was found by the same time. By weeks 10-11 these animals demonstrated partial restoration of motion in three joints of the hindlimb. In the scar tissue and in adjacent SC zones numerous regenerating thin myelinated nerve fibers were found. They were clearly demonstrated in the zones of cranial and caudal borders along the whole distance until the appearance of typical tissue of SC. In slides from the animals of control group, thin myelinated nerve fibers were found only in close proximity to SC substance, while in the scar tissue and in the cellular bands of the intermediate zone nerve fibers were scarce.

Dependence of the activity of monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) in different human bone marrow (BM) sections on death-coming prescription (DCP) and on age was investigated. It was established that the activity of MAO-B in BM cervical intumescence is an objective DCP marker (within a time span of 12 hours). The enzymatic activity in the thoracic BM section provides for calculating the age of the deceased person.

In experiment performed in 9 dogs the combined lesions of posterior supporting structures of the lumbar part of the vertebral column and of the spinal cord were modeled by partial laminectomy and left LV segment hemisection, respectively. The material was obtained at 14 days, 1 and 2-3 months following the operation. In longitudinal paraffin sections, stained with hematoxylin-eosin and according to Nissl's, Masson's and van Gieson's methods, as well as in silver nitrate-impregnated sections, the morpho-functional characteristics of the injured spinal cord segment were studied. The total surface area of cavities which were formed as a result of nervous tissue destruction were measured. During 2.5 months of the experiment the total surface area of intraspinal cavities in the injury zone was found to increase more than 4 times. The total surface area of the microcavities adjacent to the injury zone in the region of left lateral cord during this period increased from 10% to 34%, while in the intermediate zone this increase was from 6% to 58%. It is concluded that the condition of spinal instability has a negative influence on the viability of the neural structures in the damaged segment of the spinal cord.

The morphological and histoenzymological changes in the spinal neurons and spinal ganglia of dogs were analyzed after epidural administration of a 2% solution of lidocaine in acute and chronic experiments. In the control group the animals were given epidural infusions of 0.9% saline. The results obtained have shown the absence of pathological structural and metabolic changes in the nervous tissue after lidocaine injection. Certain signs of morpho-functional reorganization were noted in the spinal neurons of animals in both experimental and control groups. The registered changes were found to vary within the physiological fluctuation limits and are rather indicative of the functional reaction of the nervous tissue structures in question to the epidural injections of either saline or lidocaine.

In animal experiments with spinal lesions, phylo- and ontogenetic features of development of plasticity in the CNS of mammals and high reliability of the CNS have been demonstrated. It has been shown that possibilities of compensation processes and the upper limit of plasticity increase in phylogeny. Much attention has been attached to the higher regions of the CNS and hypothalamus as well as to ecological and biological characteristics of animals. Changes in the structure and functions of the damaged spinal cord have been studied. The significance of sympathetic innervation and involvement of ATP and ATPase in the spinal cord functioning after injury have been demonstrated. The article reviews the investigations of the role of the cicatrixce and some endocrine glands (adrenal glands, pancreas, and thyroid gland) performed at the laboratory. In phylogeny, high plasticity has been demonstrated at early ontogenetic stages. Enzymes have been shown to facilitate recovery of spinal functions after injury.

Retrospective clinical analysis with a special focus on pyramidal syndrome expression in the disease course as well as morphological study of brain and spinal structures in all levels of cortical-spinal projection (from brain motor cortex to spinal lumbar segments) have been conducted for 11 section cases of lateral amyotrophic sclerosis (LAS), sporadic type. Two groups of patients were studied: with pronounced pyramidal syndrome (spasticity, hyperreflexia, etc)--7 cases and with some signs of pyramidal deficiency (anisoreflexia, stability of peritoneal reflexes)--4 cases. Pyramidal syndrome in LAS is considered as an emergence of current neurodegenerative process, embracing a significant part of upper motor neurons of both precentral convolution and its axons along the whole length of cerebrospinal axis in the form of cytoplasmic inclusions and axonal spheroids. A presence of pathomorphological changes in other upper segmental structures of motor control reveals their role in pyramidal deficiency. Comparative analysis showed that expression of pyramidal syndrome signs and its correlation to atrophic paresis appearances is specifically determined by the severity of upper and lower motor neurons lesions. With regard to morphological changes in CNS structures, the peculiarities of some pyramidal syndrome appearances in LAS are analyzed.

One hundred and three patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) were registered in a population medical genetic study of autosomal recessive childhood proximal SMA in Saratov region. Twenty-five patients were investigated complexly, using biochemical analysis of some enzymes, electroneuromyography, magnetic resonance imaging of spinal cord, muscle biopsy and molecular genetic testing. Pronounced clinical polymorphism and genetic heterogeneity of the disease were revealed.

We studied the temporal and spatial profile of apoptosis following acute spinal cord (SC) injury in rats and influence of chicken yolk transplantation on the programmed cell death. 18 female rats were subjected to complete SC transsection with removal of three millimeters of the SC at the level of the ninth thoracic vertebra. The gap was filled with denaturated chicken yolk in 9 animals. 9 control rats had no transplantation. Temporal and spatial course of apoptosis was estimated in longitudinal sections of the SC by TUNEL assay technique 4 hours, 3 days, 2 weeks, 40 days and 3 months after the injury. Apoptosis occurred through all posttraumatic period with its peak 40 days after the injury and decreased slowly to the minimal level by the third month. Apoptotic cells appeared near the site of the injury immediately after the trauma along the cord several hours later. Apoptosis involved only glial cells, neurons had no apoptotic signs. Suppression of apoptosis occurred in the yolk transplantation group and was accompanied by greater number of neuronal and glial survivals. Thus, apoptotic glial death after transsection of the SC in rats occurred mainly for the first eight weeks along the whole spinal cord.

One hundred fifty one patients with syringomyelia of different duration were studied using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An association between syringomyilia cavitation and Arnold--Chiari malformation as well as cerebellar tonsils location was found. No definite relationship between syringomyelia course and degree of cerebellum ectopia was detected. With disease duration increasing, cross dimensions of spinal cord cavitation are getting smaller. This may be due to spontaneous cavitations collapse. The hypothesis is supported by flattened out cavitation phenomenon found by MRI on the axial spinal cord sections of 39 patients. Such deformation corresponds to spinal cord atrophy developing during long-term disease course.

After acute exposure of rats to gravitational overloads (GO) the reactive changes in neurons and interneuronal synapses of spinal cord were found. These are interpreted as morphologic signs of increased functional activity of neurons and activation of interneuronal impulse transmission. Chronic application of GO results in both reactive changes and damage of spinal cord structures. These changes were not seen after an acute exposure to GO, and thus they are associated with the repeated GO, indicating GO cumulative effect. Administration of "Vitavis" provides a membrane-protective effect, especially in respect to mitochondria of neurons and perineuronal glial cells in cervical and thoracic segments of spinal cord. The effect was less pronounced in spinal cord lumbar segments as a result of pericapillary edema, preventing the transport or drug from capillary bed to the neural structures.

Magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) is considered to be the most informative non-invasive method in diagnosis, differential diagnosis and estimation of activity of multiple sclerosis (MS). MRI data of 270 patients with clinically and laboratory definite MS were analyzed to assess diagnostic MRI-criteria for MS, MRI presentations at the time of first clinical manifestation of the disease, neuroimaging patterns in children and elderly persons with MS. The MRI variants of MS are substantiated. Neuroimaging data of cervical spinal cord in 28 patients with MS are presented in parallel with corresponding clinical data. The most typical patterns are singled out. The data of brain 1H-magnetic-resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in 20 patients with MS and 8 patients with inflammatory and vascular disorders were analyzed to reveal biochemical distinction between MS and non-MS lesions as well as changes in normal appearing white matter in MS. The differential-diagnostic value of MRS is limited although decreased N-acetyl-aspartate peak is characteristic for MS lesions and in some cases in normal appearing white matter in primary-progressive MS.

Epidural injection of clophelin extends the possibilities and increases of the effectiveness of regional anesthesia in clinical treatment of pain syndromes. Morphological and histoenzymological changes in spinal cord and spinal ganglion neurons were analyzed in dogs after epidural injection of clophelin. The results indicate the absence of pathological structural and metabolic changes in nervous tissue following clophelin administration. Increase in neuronal RNA content and microvascular alkaline phosphatase activity in experimental group as compared to the control one indicates the activation of protein synthesis and the augmentation of active transport processes in the nervous tissue capillary endothelium, both of which may be interpreted as the favorable phenomena.

Pathology study of 32 patients who died of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the Ural Region in 1990s revealed differences with this infection registered in 1940-1950s. Pathological changes in the central nervous system by their severity and location are like those observed in the Far East TBE. Apart from grave alterative changes in the nerve cells of motor nuclei of the spinal cord and brain, three types of pathological changes are observed: productive inflammation, exudative inflammation without pronounced inflammatory reaction. Differences in the organism reactions to the infectious process are explained by differences in the virus virulence and organism immunological status.

Spinal trauma is a serious problem of modern medicine. The morphological studies illustrate the presence of two alternative pathways of cell destruction in the injured spinal cord: immediate necrotic damage and delayed apoptotic destruction of cells. The apoptosis continues for about 14 days after trauma, and it involves both neurons and glia on a significant distance from the traumatic zone. In this review, the basic stages of apoptosis in spinal cord, biochemical regulation of this process, and methods for its detection are considered. The fact, that apoptosis is a normal cell death process, and that it has reversible stages allows to consider a possibility of pharmacological correction of apoptosis. The special attention is paid to anti-apoptotic therapy with the use of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides and to the perspectives of gene therapy.